I was shocked at this movie, and not because of the 30-foot wild gorilla running loose through the high-rises of New York City with a bubbling blond in a slip dress in his fist.

But rather, it was seeing the infamous Jack Black play a role decently well, which did not include tighty whiteys, singing or swearing, that really made my jaw hit the theater floor.

Jack Black, we salute you. You are more than just underwear.

This long-awaited remake of the old classic King Kong was a BIG hit in all the good ways. With a fabulous cast, including a glowing Naomi Watts -- the amazing technological creation of a 30-foot gorilla often seemed trite in comparison.

The story follows Anne Darrow ( Watts), a struggling actress in New York City. When she is left with no work, food, or money, and about to resort to dancing in a cheap gentleman’s club, she is discovered by eccentric film producer Carl Denham (Black). The big-eyed filmmaker is secretly planning to take his investors money, and flee with the unsuspecting crew to an undiscovered island that he found on a treasure map, and film his next big flick there.

After tricking a talented writer Jack Driscoll (Adrienne Brody) into being stuck aboard the ship, along with Farrow, Denham follows a map toward Skull Island. In the nature of a true capitalist, he plans to discover the new land is deserted, and reap all its benefits.

These benefits turn out to a some seriously scary things, including but not limited to, creepy eye-bulging natives running around with a wild spookiness similar to The Ring, as well as massive man-eating dinosaurs, large carnivorous flying beasts, and of course, the mysterious Kong.

Black’s character is delightfully funny, and leads the crew on an array of wicked debauchery, most of which is without their knowledge. But his dream movie is put on hold when he discovers that the life forms on his “deserted” island are more of a nightmare.

This part of the film is where director Peter Jackson’s brilliance in big movie making stands out, almost as much as Watts does in her too-tiny dress. In combination with the casts’ frighteningly realistic acting ability, the sweeping special effects are overdone in a good way.

Gasps, Oooh’s and Aaaah’s resounded off the theater walls, as the truly spine chilling monsters chased the crew through the wild jungle.

A somewhat corny love story is unfortunately woven within the chaos, between the writer and the actress. When she is taken by the natives, and offered as a sacrifice to the Kong, the writer leaves the ship alone and goes back into the wild jungle to save her.

Give me a bloody break.

I can’t name one male who would take on dinosaurs, thousands of wild natives, and a 30-foot wild and toothy gorilla for a chick they’ve kissed once – even if she did have her killer body wrapped in a sexy silk nightdress.

The truly inspiring love story, which is equally as unbelievable but much more moving, is the one that evolves between Darrow and Kong. The love continues and eventually kills the surprisingly sensitive beast.

Denham uses Darrow as bait and captures the gorilla, and brings it back to New York City and again, uses it to fill his pocket. It eventually escapes, of course, and again takes his blond babe atop the empire state building where they share more tender moments, and she thanks him for saving her life back in the jungle. Finally, planes and helicopters come, with Darrow’s life in mind, and shoot the large loveable beast to his death.

(Insert several waterfalls of the eyes here.)

This movie evoked a plethora of emotions, which is classic characteristic of a truly great film. It managed to achieve monumental special effects, but was heart wrenching as well.